Sweeper floor tool



Feb. l20, 1940. D. B. REPLoGLr-z 2,190,679

swEEPER FLOOR TOOL Filed Oct. l5, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 20, 1940. D. a. REPLOGLE SWEEPER FLOOR TOOL 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed oct. 15, 193s, j

.y E wh. mw Nm W wm www m .A 1 2 @N3 m W vw mw Q. @n ,w A mm, mwmvmmwmw mw wm, mw Q w. WN D Q Q w mw a QQ mw 99 mm mv au .1 #YEL M wwflhm lull Patented Feb. 20, 1940 PATENT VoI-I-lczu 2.190.619 A swnnran noon' Toor.

Daniel Benson neplogle, Berkeley, om., miglior v to The Ohio Citizens` Trust Company, Toledo, Ohio, a. corporation of Ohio, as trustee Application October 15, 193'6, Serial No. 105,789

7 (.llaims.n (Cl. 15-'15'1) This invention pertains to the application tools through which suction is applied, particularly to floors and oor coverings, by means of so-called vacuum cleaner systems; but is more particularly applicable to that form of electrical motor driven portable cleaner of the type commerciallyknown under the registered trade-mark Air-Way, in which suction producing means* are directlyy connected to the suction pipe thatcarries the floor cleaning tool; and are moved about manually with the pipe, or some part of it, used as a handle. l

The invention in certain of its aspects is in the nature of an improvement in the type of apparatus disclosed in Replogle and Queen Patent No.

1| 1,994,872 dated March 19, 1935, wherein the iloor 'I tool or nozzle is of the reversible double-mouthed type and is provided with a valve which formsy an extension of the outlet pipe or suction -handle which serves to cut oil? whichever mouth is upper- Y vmost from the source of suction As disclosed-in .d

said patent an annular rib is provided at the' junction between the valve member and the outlet pipe, andthe suction nozzle is' formed in two sections, each section carrying one of the mouths of the tool and each section carrying a complementary portion of an annular groove rotatably engaging the rib of the valve member, when the two sections of the nozzle are secured together.

According to the aforesaid prior patent the g@ lower section of the outlet pipe, the valve member l and the rib may be formed of a. single piece by stamping or die casting operations and to permit of these operations the front of the valve member was partially cut away.

g5 According to the present embodiment of the-invention the valve member may be in the form of a cap, the front of which is closed and is adapted to fit into a boss in the front of the nozzle stiiening the construction and providing more accurate rom tation. The rear end of the cap may be angecl and secured by means of a standing seam to the lower end of the outlet pipe, the junction between the valve and outlet pipe forming the ribwhich coacts with the grooves in the complementary sec- 45 tions of the nozzle.

Another feature of the present invention is the improved form of lips or stroker members with which the fioor tool is equipped.

Still another feature of the invention is the pro- 5g vision of a sealing strip which encircles the entire tool as well as the outside of the stroken members.

Another feature of the invention the improved form oi end closure plates.

Still another feature is the improved form of 55 end'rollers and supports therefor.

Other objects and advantages will appear :from` the further detailed description of the invention. The-invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings-in which is set forth for the purpose of illustration 5 Y an illustrative embodiment oi the inventive thought involved, it being understood that the invention is not limited to such details vof con struction.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the oor tool embodying my invention', one of the end rollers being removed.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the tool, portions being broken away, the section being taken on the l5 line 2--2 of Fig. 3.A

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the tool, portions being broken away.

Fig. 4 is an -end view, with portions in section.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of one end i of the tool showing the roller mounting.

Fig. 7 is an exploded View showing the roller mounting.

Fig. 8 is an exploded sectional view showing the g5 principal portions of the floor -tool separated one from the other.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the tool connected to an elongated tubular handle.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view showing the floor 30 y' tool as forming part of a portable electric cleaner.

Fig. 11 is a detailed perspective view of one of the'strokers. w

Fig. 12 is a. detailed perspective view of one of the ber end plates.

Referringto the drawings I0 denotes generally Aa floor vtool or suction nozzle shown asprovided with oppositely disposed inlet mouths Il and I2. The mouth Il extends the full length of the tool and is employed for ordinary iioor sweeping operat tions. The mouth l2 is reduced in size and is intended for use under special conditions where a more concentrated and swifter air-stream is required than is ordinarily needed. l This mouth may be provided with a detachable stroker mema ber I3 secured to the nozzle proper as by means of screws I4. This stroker member may be suitably roughened as lindicated at I5 to aid in removing recalcitrant threads. ravellings or caked earthy spots on the floor.

-its

suction cleaner. The sections I6 and I1 may connected by a latch member I8 andv together serve as a suction handle and means for propelling the apparatus lacross the door. 'This suction handle may be in one piece if desired or may be composed of as many sections as circumstances may require. 'Ihese sections maybe rigidor flexible or both exible and rigid and may be composed of 'any' suitable material as metal, hard ber, Bakelite or rubberized material.

According to the present embodmient of the invention a valve member i9 is secured to the lower and of the outlet pipe I6 and as shown is in the form of a cap, thefront portion 26 oi' which is circular and is provided with a iiange 2l. The cap is cut away as at,.1 2 to provide an inlet opening leading from the interior of the' nozzle and adapted to be placed in communication` with either the mouth Il or i2 of the nozzle whichever is lowermost while at the same time the uncut cylindrical wall of the valve cuts oil.' communication betweenthe other mouth and the outlet pipe. The rear end of the valve or cap member may be anged as at 23 and a flange 24 on the outlet pipe is rolled over the ange 23, the two being pressed together tightly so as. to secure the two sections rmly together. The

junction between the valve member i9 and the includes'the mouth i2. These sections may be' composed of light metal such as aluminum or outlet pipe I8 provides a rib similar to the ribl 2l at the front of the cap.

As shown the nozzle proper is composed of two complementary sections Y2d and 26, the larger of which 25 includes the mouth il and the smaller may be formed of plastic synthetic material such as phenolic condensation products commercially known as Bakelite. provided with complementary halves of the circular grooves 27 and 28` into which revolubly t the ribs 2i and 24rof the composite valve and outlet pipe member, when the two sections 25 and 2i of the tool are secured together byany suitable fastening means as for example the screws 29. 2t.

These -two screws are the only fastening means required for holding the two parts or the nozzle together.

When the two sections are assembled.. as indicated in Fig. 1 a circular boss d@ will be profvided at the front end of the tool, against which the closed end 2d of the valve la ts snugly, strengthening the apparatus atthis point and providing for accurate rotation.

within the grooves 21 and 'I'he ribs 2i and 24 iit 23 in the nozzle head.'

At the front and rear of the enlarged mouth ll of the oor tool, strokers 3i, 3| are preferably provided. These strokers may be formed of hard the strokers are channel :liber or other suitable non-metallic and durable material, which will not mar the fioorcoverings when coming into contactiherewith. .As shown shaped, one side 32. of the channel being higher than the'other 33. The

lower sideis adapted to t 'the outside of the nozzle and the member 32 to t the inside. The channel shaped strokers are tightly tted over the front and rear lips oi' the nozzlemouth il. The ends of theA sides 32 of the strokers are cut away at 34 providing tabs 35 which dt in mortised openings 38 formed in the ends of the iloor tool.

'The'lower limit of the cut away portion 34 is at substantially the same level as the top of the opposite side 33 of the Stroker.

u Each Stroker is arcuately cut away intermediate These two sections are its ends as indicated at 38. These cut away p0rtions are to enable the strokers to fit the rolmd ed boss it at the front of the tool and the outlet pipe I6 at the rear of the tool, thus enabling the tool to be reversed as described in my patent No. 1,994,872. The routed or cut out portions 38 of the strokers also serve a second important function in removing and re-applying the strolrers to the nozzle as will be apparent from the drawings. 'I o remove the strokers they are pulled downwardly at the center portion thus springing the strokers at the middle, thereby retracting the -end tabs 351mm the mortises 3S.

In applying the Stroker to the nozzle it is simi the mortises andthe Stroker to be locked in place with the side 33 extending along the interior of the nozzle and the side 32 extending along the exterior. I have found that hard ber is particularly adapted for use with strokers of this type for the reason that it is relatively rigid when applied to the loor tool but nevertheless possesses suflicient flexibility to permit a stroker composed thereof to be bent intermediate its ends when such stroker is cut away as herein indicated.

To prevent leakage between the strokers and the body of a nozzle, the exible band 39 preferably of rubber is placed around the tool overlapping the upper portion of the exterior of the strolrers. This band also serves as a bumper to prevent marring of the furniture or the like with which the tool may come in contact.

The stroker members Si form, with the ends of the tool, end openings ad, into which air is adapted to be drawn lateraly. Automatically adJustable lids or plates t1 are provided for opening, closing or varying the end openings according to the degree of downward pressure applied to the tool. 'I'hese lids are shown as rectangular in shape, each being provided with a struck out tab di leaving an end the shank da or an end roller tl is adapted to pass.

A rivet or stop member de may be mounted on the top of the shank i3 and a corresponding cut away portion t6 may be provided in the end plate 3l at the upper margin of the opening 42. The roller shank is adapted to fit into an end pocket 47 in the floor tool, the sides et, da of which pocket extend upwardly from the body of the floor tool while the top of the pocket is formed of a, springlike member 49 fitting between the side walls d8 and held in place by which as previously described holds the upper and lower sections of the tool together. As shown this spring is leaf shaped and is reinforced at the inner end as indicated at 50. At the outer end there is provided a catch member 5i which poses as for example when it becomes desirable to place the .end of the tool in a corner for removingthe accumulated dust therefrom. I

It will be noted that the end roller t4 is provided with a crowned surface 54, the curvature of which may be so selected with reference to the length `of the roller shank that the crowned opening t2 through which v the assembling screw 29 -is adapted to engage beyond the .rivet or stop surface will always be in contact with the floor.

As will be apparent from the drawings, horns, ears, or projections 55 are provided at the ends of the iioor tool which .serveas guideways for the end plates 31, the elastic band extending between said horns and the outside oi the said end plates. Struck out tabs Il which engage downturned portions of the roller shank serve to hold these lids tightly against the ends of the nozzle. It will be apparent that both ends of the floor tool are alike and the description of the end pocket, roller supports, etc. for one side is applicable to the other as weil.

Gperation The apparatus may be used for ordinary iioor' cleaning purposes or for special cleaning operations where a high degree of vacuum is required, according to whichimouth of the tool is placed in contact with the door.' For removal oi ravelings or the like the reduced mouth I2 `is employed, the tool being reversed from the position shown in Fig. 1 by simply turning the nozzle about the combined handle and valve. The stroker I3 with the roughened portion I5 facili- I tates this special work.

For ordinary oor cleaning purposes the larger mouth II is employed. Air is drawnA into the nozzle ,thru the fabric or carpet and the end openings 40 may be automatically varied by the position of the ber lids to avoid the sticking to the iioor, if much downward pressure is applied to the tool. Owingto the crowned shape of 4the rollers, marring of the floor by engagement of sharp edges is avoided. The rollers and roller shanks may be readily removed when required as for example when it is desired to place one end of the iioor tool in a corner for withdrawing accumulated dust into the nozzle through one of the end openings 4I.

Where a metal floor tool isemployed the removable iiber strokers 3l prevent contact between the metal lips of the tool and the surface covering being cleaned. These strokers are readily assembled by bending at the cut away center portion and then snapping into place and are similarly removed by catching hold of the stroker at the cut away portion and drawing the same downwardly thus disengaging the ends of the strokers from the mortises formed in the ends of andere i 3 the rib of said valve member when the two sections of the nozzle are vsecured together; the improvement wherein the valve constitutes a sep-y arate cap having a flange secured to the outlet pipe forming the rib which engages in said groove, the front of the cap being closed and abutting against the interior of the front of the nozzle, the outer surface of the nozzle being bulged to form a circular boss which is concentric with and slightly greater in diameter than the cross-secl tional area of the suction pipe where the cap is secured thereto, said cap including also a second rib at the front portion thereof which fits in said circular boss. y

2. A suction cleaner, comprising a suction nozl5 zle, front and rear stroker members for said nozzle, each stroker having end tabs projecting through mortises formed in the ends of said nozzle, and being cut away intermediate its ends .to enablethe stroker to be bent and the ends of the strokers withdrawn from the mortises in the ends of the nozzle. 'V 3. A suction cleaner as set forth in claim 2,

' wherein each stroker is channel shaped and ts over a lip of the nozzle, one side of the channel 95 extending along the interior of the nozzle, and the other side along the exterior, and means for forming a fluid tight connection between the stroker and the nozzle.

4. A suction cleaner as set forth in claim 2, wherein each stroker is channel shaped and ts over a lip .of the nozzle, one side of the channel extending along the interior of the nozzle, and the other side along the exterior, and means for forming a fluid tight connection between the l5 stroker and the nozzle, said means comprising a continuous flexible band fitting around the exterior of said nozzle and covering the upper edges of the exterior portions of the strokers.

5. A stroker for use with a suction cleaner nozzle comprising an elongated member of channel shape, having tabs at the ends of one side of the stroker adapted to t in mortises formed. in the ends of the nozzle, and being arcuately cut away intermediate its ends to permit the stroker to be bent for withdrawing the end tabs from the mortises when the stroker is to be removed from the nozzle. y

6. For use with a suction cleaner nozzle which is rotatable about an outlet pipe, aoor engag- I0 ing stroker for said nozzle composed of relatively rigid non-metallic materialhavingsumcient ilexibiiity to permitv bending, said stroker having end tabs' adapted to be projected throughmortises formed in the'nds of the nozzle, and being cut away intermediate its ends for the dual purpose of accommodating the outlet pipeand to enable the stroker to be bentvand the ends oi' the stroker withdrawn from the mortises in the end of the nozzle.

7. A iloor engaging stroker as set forth in claim 6 composed of hard ber.

DANIEL BENSON REPIQGII. 

